There were a lot of things that often happened during lunch time, between young men and women all gathered around the dining hall. Even in a world like this, arguments would spur out and inevitably something went flying.
But it didn't hit Han.
It wasn't like the people's grudge on him were that enormous that they'd dare throw out the special deluxe tomato souffle at someone sharing a table with three [ Nobles ], instead the dish went flying and splattered against someone else—
Oh, it didn't hit the [ Elf ].
A shimmering white barrier surrounded the young cloaked woman as she ate silently. She had used their lessons for use, or maybe she actually knew [ Shield Barrier ] even prior to the lesson? The young woman undeterred continued to eat unperturbed. Well Han had noticed her sitting all by her lonesome near the hall's walls but unfortunately Timothy gave him a shake of a head when he stood up. It was as if his companion already had an idea of what he was going to do.
"It kind of sucks that some people can't help but bully other people, maybe she'd face less harassment if she could sit with us." He remarked as nonchalantly as he could. The others in the table with him all had different reactions when he brought up Ellynn.
"There's a reason why she sits alone, besides there's no more room in the table." Penelope told him. He eyed the empty spot besides Sir Leon de Harrington. "That's Elliot's seat." Penelope added with a knowing look, her lips curled into a frown.
Han raised a brow, "We could always pull up a seat, there's actually a lot more room.."
"I understand your generosity or interest in Ellynn but she doesn't really interact with others." Lady Angelika spoke up with a smile, "I personally don't understand why there's a lot of rumors surrounding one girl in the [ Mage Curriculum ]..."
Penelope sniffed as she looked at the other girl on the table,"She thinks she's all that because she's got some [ Elf ] blood running through her veins."
Donovan shrugged as he stabbed his fork into his steak, "Well, if she's that strong then there's something to boast about. We just can't attribute that to [ Elf ] blood, she's a [ Half Elf ]."
"Of course you'd keep tabs on someone like them, don't you?" Penelope rolled her eyes. "You have weird—"
A sheepish smile formed on Sir Leon de Harrington's face as he raised a hand, "Oh, I was actually the one who asked Donovan for help. I thought learning more about them could help relate to her better, she may have [ Elf ] blood but she's also [ Human ]. Plus, she's also a candidate for top ranking, right, Lady Primrose?"
"You can just call me Penny, I told you that haven't I?" Penelope quirked her lips, before acknowledging what the young [ Noble ] said, "Also, I don't think that there's anything for Sir Harrington to worry about—you'll definitely graduate first rank in this semester!" She gave them a bright smile.
Han inwardly sighed as the matter turned elsewhere, but there was something about—
"How do the rankings function, Penny?" Timothy glanced at the young lady beside him.
The ginger-haired young lady smiled, "Well, Kraelonia Academy has a lot of students within here and we have a ranking system. As you know, most graduates from this Academy tend to either work for the King's Army or become Adventurers. How you rank in each semester and your overall ranking at the end is a great determiner of how far you can end up after studying."
Han Jing listened to her explanation, it was almost like a regular university then. The GPA or QPI marks that one would get… he tried to forget about that awful memory. If he and Timothy were ranked 999+ then they must be the bottom of the bottom indeed. The [ System ] hadn't exactly been wrong back then.
"There are occurrences that if you are in the top Ranks when you graduate, then you can automatically be promoted to a [ Corporal ] or [ Sergeant ] if you were to join the King's Army instead of becoming an ordinary [ Soldier ]." Donovan answered with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Lady Angelika smiled a bit, "And the Ranks are also not exclusive to how well you do in class, the [ Professors ] and [ Headmaster ] also choose them based on character traits too."
Han paused at those words, there might be some hope for them after all. "So for example, if I currently rank around uh… hypothetically at rank 999 or lower, there's still a chance I could be a top Rank?"
Penelope raised a brow at his question, "You?"
"Um, well possibly…" The other woman, Lady Angelika smiled, "You see, most of the people who enter the top Ranks are the ones capable of leadership, middle Ranks are those who are more suitable as second in command or a more support role usually. And the ones in the lower Rank prove themselves capable as—"
"Fodder." Donovan stabbed his fork once more on his steak.
The armored Lady rubbed her forehead, "Donovan that's not true, they studied here in the Academy how to fight."
"I suppose they're stronger than an average [ Peasant ] but in the end, they're the ones who get sent to die in battles." It was at this moment that the man, who Han assumed to be a bootlicker, stared down at the [ Noble ] as their plate cracked.
His words hung on the air for a moment.
A certain animosity that almost felt like they weren't even talking about Ranks anymore. Han didn't want to speak up at the moment unless a fight broke out or something, one glance at his left showed the man beside him tense. The veins in his arms were bulging and their axe was just within hand's reach too.
"And this is why it's better off being a [ Mage ], at least they tend to be more safe during battles." Penelope shrugged, dispelling it without even noticing it perhaps. The young woman was picking at her meal of salad. "Plus there's a lot more options than just warfare, one can enter as a [ Professor ] or do their own research. Some become [ Alchemists ], [ Enchanters ] and other professions."
Timothy rubbed his face for a moment, "Plus, if you choose to study here… doesn't it mean that you're willing to risk your life in the first place? I mean, what's the reason why you even enrolled here then, Donovan? Especially if you chose the [ Combat Curriculum ], there's always going to be bloodshed whether you like it or not. If you wanted a secure and safe job, you could have opted to be a [ Blacksmith ], [ Carpenter ] or other professions."
He didn't expect Timothy to speak up but his friend had a point. And it also happened to be some sort of challenge even. Han wished that this really didn't turn out to be a fight as he was currently in between the two men. He could already imagine an axe getting lodged somewhere and he wasn't sure if Timothy would be the victor here.
"Don't talk as if you know what I'm talking about," Donovan spat as he picked up his plate shards with his bare hands, "Excuse me for a moment." The man left their table and walked towards the kitchen or waste disposal area perhaps.
Somebody cleared their throat, "A bit of a debate is happening which is well and all, open discussion is good but I'm not sure if such heated talks are to be held while eating—which is supposed to be a pleasant activity." Sir Leon de Harrington gave a small tired smile.
"And we might get late for our next classes too." Han spoke up as he began to eat his lunch much faster. His next class was with Donovan, Sir Leon and Lady Angelika. Timothy would take his class with Penelope and Ellynn.
It was still a long day for them.